Georgia homeowner shoots wanted Ohio murder suspect during home invasion

An Ohio murder suspect was met with deadly force when a homeowner shot him during an attempted burglary in Georgia on Thursday.

Michael James Brooks II, of Columbus, Ohio, who has been accused of murdering a 77-year-old Ohio woman, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with two gunshot wounds sustained during the home invasion.


Suspect Michael James Brooks II

According to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office (FCSO), deputies responded to reports of a burglary at the home around 2 a.m. on Thursday. Brooks was allegedly weilding a knife in the basement when the homeowner confronted him with a firearm.

The homeowner reportedly gave Brooks a warning before shooting him, authorities said, according to Fox News.

After firing the first shot, the homeowner took a defensive stance on the second floor above the stairs, in which Brooks was shot again.

"There, he took his stand as the subject made his way up to the second floor. [He] made the comment, something to the effect of, 'You're going to have to kill me,' when the resident fired a second shot. That was about the time the deputies got there. From what we can tell, he was coming down the stairway with a second gunshot wound," Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb said. "At that point, they actually still struggled with him [as they] took him into custody."

Once he is released from the hospital, Brooks faces multiple charges which include burglary, home invasion, and theft, according to authorities.

In addition to those charges, Brooks will also be charged with murder in Ohio for the alleged killing of Emily Foster, 77, during another home invasion that occurred on Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio. Brooks allegedly stabbed Foster to death just one day after he was released from Franklin County Jail, Columbus police said. 

Columbus Deputy Chief Smith Weir said the department had issued a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday after they had received a positive identification through forensic evidence found at Foster's home. Deputy Chief Weir believes that Brooks' parole had ended, and that he was out on bond before the fatal stabbing.

"Initially, he was on a parole hold. And the second part is, I believe, at a certain point, the parole hold ended, and he began serving time on the pending felony assault charge. And at that point, he was awaiting sentencing, and I believe he bonded out at that point," Weir said.

Brooks has an extensive criminal history and has served time in prison for aggravated robbery, robbery, receiving stolen property, and felony fleeing on aggravated assault, according to the network.

Police also discovered a stolen Ford truck found at the crime scene in Georgia which Brooks allegedly carjacked in Kettering, Ohio.

Fayette County investigators said that Brooks had approached a number of homes in the Georgia neighborhood and that the targeted home was picked at random. Authorities are trying to find out if Brooks has any connections between Georgia and Ohio, Fox News reports.